San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-06-20

they are not disposed to do; and sec.
Ondly, whilst they are imbued with
full sense Of military ardOr, they do not
think it consistent with the objects for
which the company WAS organized TO be
made mere advertising dodge. On
both grounds the members OF the COM
pany unanimously decided not to parti-
cipate IN the drill.
nj
Total Abstinence Not Enioined
Editor LIGHT:
differ widely from those who main
tain that the prohibition question should
not be tried and tested by the scrip
lures, and | do so for the following
reasons: First, because the preachers
either estimate, or dOgmatically assert,
that total abstinence from intoxicating
beverages is inculCated, enjOined In the
scriptures. and, by this course, have
well nigh united one or more denomin-
atoms In the support Of prohibition I'M
der the belief that Christians are bound
to favor total abstinence in case 1t be
enjOined in the scriptures.
The prohibition question will not be
settled and disposed of by one election.
Its advocates are terribly in earnest and
full OF zeal, and will not be cowed and
cast down by one defeat, consequently,
this question will enter into every cleo
tion for years to come. Ii the Christian
scots sincerely think that total abstl-
hence Is enjOined In the scriptures,
which they say constitutes their rule of
action, then they cannot be consistent
except by favOring prohibition. How
are we to reach such persons by argu-
ment? Ii is a waste of breath and ink
to assure them ii Is only q political is
sue, since that is the very thing they de-
ny. see no way of reaching such per-
sons, except by showing them that total
abstinence is not enjOined in the scrip
lures, that the temperate use of wine 10
neither hurtful to the body, nor to the
soul OF man, and that temperance is the
alpha and omega of the teaching OF the
Bible, as regards meat and drink. Ii
such is the teaching Of the Bible tits
pages are open TO the exam
ination of every MANI it is
perfectly clear that the professors of
the christian religion are proceeding
directly against the letter and spirit OF
the Bible in attempting to make total
abstinence a positive duty on the part
Of such as connect themselves with any
of the denominations, and are essentially
wrong in endeavoring to establish COM
pulSOry total abstinence by means of
human legislation and an army of spies
and informers and veXatiOus prOsecu-
tions. That drunkenness is beastly and
ruinous, is universally conceded. The
most incorrigible drunkard, admits that
drunkenness is low, vulgar, and degrad-
ing. No anti-prOhibitiOnist defends. or
agOlOgises for drunkenness, either by
word or vote. II q person opposed the
law prohibiting the carrying of pistols,
- a hn IN, Of
assassination and murder. Punish pub
lie drunkenness, but don't strip temper
ate men of their personal liberty, be-
cause twenty men out of 10000 are hab-
tual sOts and too weak of resolution to
drink in moderation, or to fOrswear the
use of liquor. 1t is an unfOunded pre-
tense on the part of the prOtibiCionists,
that morality, religion and God are on
their side of the question. We must
gather the purposes of God from his re-
vealed word, the Scriptures, the object
OF the revelation was to acquatnt men
with his will, and it is past all dispute,
that the temperate use Of wine is not
interdicted in the Scriptures, hence
morality, religion and God cannot be
truthfully said to be enlisted on the side
of Il law prohibiting the sale of intOXi-
cants. Many easy going and unthink-
ing persons have been mlsled by the cry
that total abstinence is en-
Joined in the Bible. The at
tempt to show that the Bible allows
unfermented wine, or must, to be drank,
but forbids the use of fermented wine, is
ludicrOuS. Common sense brands it as
supremacy absurd We are commanded
to avoid drunkenness and be temperate
in meat and drink-tO praGiCe self-GOn-
trOl-which commandment would be
supertluOus, in case only unfermented
wine was allowed to be used, as that
could not produce drunkenness. The
Bible itself plainly shows that no such
distinction was made between ferment-
ed and unfermented wine, as is contend
ed for by the prohibitiOnists, when
driven to the wall by the challenge to
prove that total abstinence is enioined
Ii Hosea, and IL, 1t Is said that "wine
and new wine take away the heart"
which Is aOOut the only time the dis
tinctiOn between them is alluded to, and
even here both are Classed as intOXi-
Oants. or course, unfermented wine, or
must, would be as rcd in color rs the
fermented wine, and consequently I'M
der the ban pronounced by Solomon.
But, while prohibitiOnists may be free
from drunknness and violently opposed
to liquor, it is more than probable that
many of the most noisy ones are en-
shaved by avarice, devoid of all sem
hlance of charity and addicted to sensu-
alism, on the sly; hence 1t is sheer AFRO.
gance to claim they are the anointed
champions and eXemplars Of morality.
The Christian denominations seem to
place more reliance upon the secular
power than OIL the efficacy of the Cos
pei, for the suppression OF drunkenness,
and in so dong they are not treading
in the footsteps OF Christ and his
apostles. TONEY.
-LosT-Somewhere between Braden's
park and the city, yesterday, Smith Il
Wesson pistol, wrapped in MANILA pa
per, with box OF cartridges. Finder
will be rewarded by returning to Texas
StOCkman and Farmer office, opposite
nj